Lexus LS500 Comfort | Champagne Glasses Balance At 145mph | 1989 Lexus LS400 vs. 2020 Lexus LS500

✔ The Lexus balancing commercial has been recreated with the 2020 LS 500 ✔

We don’t usually cover regional TV commercials from other countries, but this one caught our eye. You may remember Lexus’ first ever advertisement in the United States, Balance, which featured a Lexus LS 400 driving at a simulated 145 mph (233 km/h) with a tower of champagne glasses stacked on top of the bonnet – without breaking a single one of them.

Thirty years on, a dealer in New Jersey, Lexus of Route 10, recreated that landmark ad with the help of an unlikely but rather fitting assistant. That assistant was none other than Toyota president Akio Toyoda, who balanced the glasses on the bonnet of a brand new LS 500, though – being slightly, ahem, vertically challenged himself – not without a blunder along the way.

✔ Overview ✔
The LS is the sedan that launched the Lexus brand, but the 2021 model wears a much sharper suit than the 1990 original. Going up against established luxury four-doors such as the Audi A8, BMW 7-series, and Mercedes-Benz S-class is just as much of a challenge today as it was when the LS first rolled onto the scene, but the Lexus charms with its Japanese aesthetic and standout design. A twin-turbo V-6 is standard, but those concerned with fuel efficiency can upgrade to a hybrid powertrain—although its lumpy power delivery isn't particularly luxurious. The same could be said of the LS's driving experience: It lacks the athleticism we've come to appreciate in several of its competitors. But the LS's interior is every bit as quiet and nearly as comfortable as those of its German rivals, and you'll still look like a boss when you pull up to the valet stand.

✔ What's New For 2021 ✔
Lexus has made some slight alterations to its flagship luxury sedan for 2021. The LS receives new headlamps and trim surrounds on the exterior, and Lexus says it's quieter inside thanks to a tweaked active-noise-cancellation system. The biggest improvement, however, comes in the form of a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, which replaces the fussy no-touch display that irked us for so many years.

✔ Engine, Transmission, and Performance ✔
The standard engine in the LS is a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 that delivers a silky-smooth 416 horsepower. It sounds refined and powerful while under heavy throttle but hushed when cruising. A 10-speed automatic handles gearchanges. Performance is more than enough for this car's luxury mission, but V-8-powered variants of the BMW 7-series and the Mercedes-Benz S-class proved to be quicker at the test track. Models badged LS500h feature a hybrid powertrain that uses a 3.5-liter V-6 and two electric motors to make 354 horsepower. While the standard twin-turbo V-6 operates smoothly, the hybrid arrangement feels unrefined and altogether not luxurious. The engine sounds raspy and coarse, and the transmission—a mashup of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a regular four-speed automatic—steps through preset gear ratios with all the crispness of a soggy cornflake.

✔ Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG ✔
Fuel-economy estimates for the hybrid are indeed better than the nonhybrid LS500's figures, so if you're looking to save a buck at the pump, we suppose that's the one redeeming quality of the LS500h's powertrain. Whereas the rear-wheel-drive LS500 claims 30/19 mpg highway/city, the rear-wheel-drive LS500h earns 33/25 mpg ratings from the EPA. In our real-world testing, an all-wheel-drive LS500h managed a 30-mpg result on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test. An all-wheel-drive LS500 F Sport managed 26 mpg.

✔ Interior, Comfort, and Cargo ✔
Flowing lines, intricately patterned fabrics, and rich leather upholstery fills the cabin of the LS. If you really want to go all out, spec the real wood trim, artful glass inserts, and cleverly pleated door panel fabric. Passenger space is generous for four adults. Adding a fifth person in the standard three-across rear bench would deny passengers a true luxury experience, so we recommend selecting the optional bucket seats. The rear seatbacks are fixed, so bulky cargo items may not easily fit in the LS. The trunk, however, for the LS500 and hybrid model is generously sized, each holding six carry-on suitcases. Both the Audi A8 and the Genesis G90 accommodated the same amount of luggage.

Infotainment and Connectivity
All LS models come with Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay capability, navigation, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, all controlled through a new 12.3-inch touchscreen. That means the fussy touchpad on the center console is no longer the only way to adjust vehicle settings, switch audio sources, or set a destination in the navigation menu. The system also recognizes some voice commands.

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